Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue is asking voters to replace a local option levy to help fund the agency's operating budget and meet service demands in Washington, Clackamas and parts of Multnomah counties past 2014.

The current levy, approved by voters in 2000, expires in June 2015 and makes up 14 percent or $10.5 million of the fire agency's $76.3 million operating budget, said Cassandra Ulven, a Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue spokeswoman.

The approval of the replacement levy, Measure 34-211, would allow Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue to keep the more than 40 firefighter paramedics hired since 2000 and would allow it to add up to 44 new firefighter paramedics as well as funds for equipment and help pay for potential new stations.

The levy would last for five years and take effect after the current one expires. Voters renewed the existing levy twice in 2004 and 2008.

Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue has more than 300 firefighters and 21 stations in its 210 square-mile service area that stretches from near Scappoose to Wilsonville. The agency responds to about 35,000 incidents a year.

The replacement levy would have a tax rate of 45 cents per $1,000 of assessed value, a 20-cent increase from the existing rate. It would cost about $104 for a home with an assessed value of $230,000.

Taxes on the average home would also decrease by $58, if the ballot measure fails.

Reductions in Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue staff and operations as well as increased incident response times are also likely, Ulven said. The goal is to average 5 minutes and 12 seconds or less at least 90 percent of the time. The agency average in 2013 was five minutes and 45 seconds.

"Expected increases in congestion and 911 calls, as well as an aging population, are expected to impact emergency response even more," Ulven said.

Three new stations, two small and one large, could be built at sites in the Beaverton, Aloha and West Linn areas to help accommodate the planned increased staff and equipment, Ulven said.

If the local option levy were not replaced, there would be two other opportunities to place a similar measure on a future ballot until it expires in June 2015.

*Note*: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated the amount of Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue's operating budget.